Uncurling guide for sewing machines



Sept. 23, 1941.

H. HACKLANDER 2,256,881

UNCURLING GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 23, 1941.

H. HACKLANDER 2,256,881 UNCURLING GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 23, 1941 UNCURLING GUIDE FOR MACHINES Hans Hacklander, Linden, N. J-., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company,

Elizabeth,

N. J a corporation of New J ersey Original application September 2, 1939, Serial No.

293,155. Divided and this application November 13, 1939, Serial No. 303,947

' cluding a standard'l terminating at its upper 10 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to improvements in fabric uncurling guides used on hosiery seaming sewing machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a fabric guide for a sewing machine having an improved latching expedient for maintaining the guide in either operative or inoperative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latching expedient for a fabric guide which is eifective in maintaining the guide rigidly in either operative or inoperative positions; which is constructed of a minimum of simple elements; which is simple to manipulate; and which is durable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the upper portion of a sewing machine embodying the invention with the outer feed-cup removed and a per tion of the overhanging bracket broken away to show the mounting for the uncurling guide.

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation of the upper portion of the sewing machine with a part of the side wall of the overhanging bracket broken away to further show the adjustable mounting for the uncurling guide.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of the uncurling guide showing in full lines the guide in its operative position and in dotted lines the guide in its inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a left side View of the elements shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a right side view of the elements shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 3, showing the two latching detents which maintain the uncurling guide in either operative or inoperative "position.

seaming sewing machine comprising a frame inend in a laterally projecting overhanging bracket 2 beneath which are located the feed-cups 3 and 4 adapted to support and advance the fabric sections past the stitching instrumentalities which include a needle 5, a thread-carrying looper 6 and a spreader I. For a detailed description of the hosiery seaming machine illustrated, reference may be had to my co-pending application Serial No. 293,155, filed Sept. 2, 1939, of which this case is a division.

The uncurling guide, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is located directly in front of the feed-cups 3 and 4 and is designed to uncurl and direct the edges of the fabric sections preparatory to stitching. The guide includes a central guiding plate 8 terminating at its upper end in a supporting shank portion 9. Disposed on opposite sides of the guiding plate 8 adjacent its lower end are uncurlers l0 and II yieldinglypressed by springs I2 against the faces of the guiding plate 8. Each of the uncurlers is of regular construction and further description is therefore not necessary. The uncurling guide is mounted upon a support including a horizontal plate I3, an angle bracket I4 and a vertical plate I5, whereby the guide is adapted to be adjusted laterally of the plane of the fabric sections, toward or away from the feed-cups and raised or lowered relative to the stitching point. In Fig. 2 it will be seen that the horizontal plate I3 is formed with a longitudinal rib l6 adapted to be received in a groove in the overhanging bracket 2 and is held in set position by a clamping screw I1 passing through an elongated aperture I8 in the plate l3. The aperture I8 is elongated so that the horizontal plate.

13 can beadjusted laterally.

At its forward end the plate I3 is formed with a transverse rib I9 adapted to be received in a groove formed in the horizontal limb of the angle bracket I4. Extending through an elongated transverse aperture 20 (see Fig. 9) inthe horizontal limb of the angle bracket I4 is a clamping screw 2| which secures the angle bracket in adjusted position :on the horizontal plate I3. When the screw 2| is released the angle bracket M can be shifted in a line parallel to the line of feed of the fabric sections, and then the screw may be tightened for securing said bracket in its adjusted position.

Formed in the vertical limb of the angle bracket I 4 is an elongated vertical aperture 22 through which extends the clamping screw 23 threaded into the aperture 23' provided in the vertical plate I5. To maintain the plate I5 in into a lug 28 integral with the vertical plate l5.

When the clamping screw 23 is released and. the adjusting bolt 26 is turned, it will positively raise and lower the vertical plate l5, and then the screw 23 can be tightened for holding the plate I5 in its adjusted position.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, it willbe seen that the supporting shank portion 9 of the central guiding plate 3 is formed with a bearing aperture 23 through which projects a cylindrical boss 36 formed upon a stationary locking disk 3|.

The locking diskis rigidly fastened face toface to the vertical plate l5 by a bolt 32, with the shank 9 of the central guiding'plate 8 interposed between the vertical plate and the stationary locking disk. To permit the central guiding plate 8 to turn freely upon the boss 30, the width of said boss is slightly in excess of the thickness of the central guiding plate.

To positively hold the uncurling guide in set positions, the locking disk 3| is formed with three notches 33, 34 and 35. 'Cooperating with these notches are two pivotal latches 36 and 31 biased toward each other by a coil-spring 38 connected by screws 39 to the free ends of the latches. The two latches are controlled by the lever40 having oppositely directed faces 4| and 42 and fulcrumed upon a stud 43 threaded into an "ear 44 formed on the shank 9 of the central guiding plate 8. The stud 43, in addition to supporting the lever 40, also provides the pivot for the two latches 36 and 31, the adjacent ends of which are apertured, as at 45 and 46, to receive the stud 43 (Fig. 8).

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be understood that the uncurling guide is shown in full lines in its normal operative position. In such position the latch 36 is disposed in the notch 35 in the locking disk 3| while the latch 31 rides on the periphery of the locking disk, the latch 36 being held in the notch 35 by the coil-spring 38. When it is desired to shift the uncurling guide out of operative position and into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the lever 43 is moved in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3) about the moving the latch 31 out of the notch 33 and, secondly, turning the guide about the boss 30 until the latch 36 registers with and enters the notch in the locking disk 3|.

From the above description, it will be apparent that an uncurling guide has been provided having means including two latches controlled by a single guide-shifting lever for positively locking the guide in or out of operative position, and that in the present embodiment the guide-shifting lever 43 in its action upon the latches 36 and 31 is a lever of the second order with the leverage arranged so that a minimum of effort is required to release the latches and shift the guide into or out of operative position. The free end of the guide-shifting lever 46 is preferably disposed forwardly of the uncurling guide whereby it is positioned for convenient manipulation by the operator.

When threading the needle or the looper, or when adjusting or renewing any of the stitchforming instrumentalities, it is desirable to have the uncurling guide shifted to a position such that it will not interfere, and to provide for this, the locking disk 3| is formed with a third notch 34, adapted to receive the latch 31. In order to swing the guide so that the latch 31 may enter the notch 34, it is first necessary to shift the guide into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig.3. The operator must then hold the guide stationary and at the same time move the lever toward the guide, or in a clockwise direction, thereby to disengage the latch 31 from the notch 33. After this disengagement is accomplished, a pressure on the guide in a counterclockwise direction will swing the guide to bring the latch 31 into register with the notch 34. When it is desired to return the guide to operative position,

a downward pressure on the lever 46 will disstud 43, and the initial movement of the lever 40, which movement is independent of the central guiding plate 8, raises the latch 36 out of the notch 35. When the latch is entirely clear of the notch, the lever 40 and the central guiding plate 8 move as a unit, turning the guide about the axis of the cylindrical boss 36 on the locking disk 3| until the latch 31 registers with and enters the notch 33 in the locking disk. During this turning of the guide the latches 36 and 3'! ride upon the periphery of the locking disk 3|, the coil-spring 38 being sufficiently strong so that pressure on the lever 43 in a counterclockwise direction will not tend to lift the latch 36 off the periphery of the locking disk 3|, but will effect a substantially rigid connection between the lever 40 and the guide.

When it is desired to return the uncurling guide to operative position, such as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, from its inoperative position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the lever 43 is turned in a clockwise direction, thereby first engage the latch from the notch 34 and permit the guide to be swung about its supporting boss 30.

Having .thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

A fabric guide for sewing machines having an operative and an inoperative position, means for supporting said guide whereby it may be moved from one to the other of said positions, a latch for holding said guide in operative position, a latch for holding said guide in inoperative position, and means movable in two directions and adapted for releasing one of said latches and moving the guide when operated in one of said directions and for releasing the other of said latches and moving the guide when operated in the other of said directions.

2. A fabric guide for sewing machines having an operative and an inoperative position, means for supporting said guide whereby it may be moved'from one to the other of said positions,

a locking disk, a latch cooperating with said locking disk for holding said guide in operative position, a second latch also cooperating with said locking disk for holding said guide in inoperative position, and a lever movable in two directions and adapted for releasing one of said latches and moving the guide when operated in one of said directions and for releasing the other of said latches and moving the guide when operatedin the other of said directions.

.A fabric guide for sewing machines having an operative and an inoperative position, means for supporting said guide whereby it may be moved from one .to the other of said positions, a latch pivoted to and movable with said guide for holding it in operative position, a second latch pivoted to and movable with said guide for holding it in inoperative position, and means movable in two directions and adapted for releasing one of said latches and moving the guide when operated in one of said directions and for releasing the other of said latches and moving the guide when operated in the other of said directions.

4. A fabric guide for sewing machines having an operative and an inoperative position, means for supporting said guide whereby it may be moved from one to the other of said positions, a latch pivoted to and movable with said guide for holding it in operative position, a second latch pivoted to and movable with said guide for holding it in inoperative position, said latches having a common pivotal axis, and means mov- V able in two directions and adapted for releasing one of said latches and moving the guide when operated in one of said directions and for releasing the other of said latches and moving the guide when operated in the other of said directions.

5. A fabric guide for sewing machines having an operative and an inoperative position, means for sup-porting said guide whereby it may be moved from one to the other of said positions, a latch pivoted to and movable with said guide for holding it in operative position, a second latch pivoted to and movable with said guide for holding it in inoperative position, and a pivotal lever movable in two directions and adapted for releasing one of said latches and moving the guide when operated in one of said directions and for releasing the other of said latches and moving the guide when operated in the other of said directions, said latches and lever having a common pivotal axis.

6. A fabric guide for sewing machines having an operative and an inoperative position, means for supporting said guide whereby it may be moved from one to the other of said positions, a latch pivoted to and movable with said guide for holding it in operative position, a second latch pivoted to and movable with said guide for holding it in inoperative position, a spring connecting said latches together for holding each of said latches in its respective locking position, and means movable in two directions and adapted for releasing one of said latches and moving the guide when operated in one of said directions and for releasing the other of said latches and moving the guide when operated in the other of said directions.

7. A fabric guide for sewing machines having an operative and an inoperative position, means for sup-porting said guide whereby it may be moved about a substantially horizontal axis from one to the other of said positions, a locking disk in axial alinement with the axis about which the guide moves, a latch pivoted to said guide and cooperating with said locking disk for holding said guide in operative position, a latch pivoted to said guide and cooperating with said locking disk for holding said guide in inoperative position, and a lever movable in two directions and adapted for engaging and releasing one of said latches when operated in one of said directions and for engaging and releasing the other of said latches when operated in the other of said directions.

8. A fabric uncurling guide for sewing malatches and moving the guide when operated in 9. A sewing machine fabric uncurling guide 7 having an operative and an inoperative position, means for supporting said guide whereby it may be moved about a substantially horizontal axis from one to the other of said positions, a central guiding plate, a stationary locking disk, a latch secured to said central guiding plate and cooperating with said locking disk for holding said guide in operative position, a second latch also secured to said central guiding plate and cooperating with said locking disk for holding said guide in inoperative position, and a lever movable in two directions and adapted for releasing one of said latches and moving the guide when operated in one of said directions and for releasing the other of said latches and moving the guide when operated in the other of said directions, said central guiding plate, looking disk and lever being arranged consecutively face-to-face adjacent the substantially horizontal axis of movement of the guide.

10. A fabric uncurling guide for sewing machines having an operative and an inoperative position, means for supporting said guide whereby it may be moved from one to the other of said positions, a latch for holding said guide in operative position, a second latch for holding said guide in inoperative position, and a lever movable in two directions and adapted for releasing one of said latches and moving the guide when operated in one of said directions and for releasing the other of said latches and moving the guide when operated in the other of said directions, said lever being of the second order and having its free end disposed for convenient manipulation by the operator.

HANS HACKLANDER. 

